Edwin Masters has spent his entire life lusting after one car -- a 1962 Alfa Romeo Spider 2600. When he finally buys one, it changes the entire shape and meaning of his world. The car comes with a guest, and the restless spirit is awakened by Edwin.<br><br>Cooper James, the young man who died behind the wheel forty-seven years earlier, haunts the Spider and he wants a life. He wants Edwin. So he reaches out, sucking Edwin into a deepening abyss by exploiting demons from a past Edwin can't break from.<br><br>Edwin resists, struggling against the phantom in favor of an attractive, exciting young man who wants to be with him, Carson Heston. Carson holds the key to Edwin's salvation, but every time he gets close, Cooper terrorizes him. Edwin knows he'll be lost forever if he submits to Cooper's dark promise of release and relief, but that might be the only way to save Carson's life.

On a Bruised Road

He pushed himself off the couch, resolving to put the whole thing behind him. It had been ten seconds. It hadn’t been some life-changing experience, worthy of constant thought. It was barely even worthy of memory. He just needed to set it behind him and focus on other things. Like work.


Edwin’s office had been left in disarray the day before, and stepping into it now didn’t offer him any sort of comfort. He had been too eager to get to the bank in time to purchase his cashier’s check, and he hadn’t taken the time to put his books back in place and make sure all his papers were in order. A clean home is a happy home, as his grandmother would say, and cleaning would at least keep him distracted.


The indoor/outdoor thermometer on his desk told him that it was already over ninety degrees outside, and it was barely lunchtime. It wouldn’t have been much cooler than that in the hills. So why the ever-present chill?


Chapter 6